Whiffletree-hook.



T; 11101100111, WHIPFLETRBE HOOK. APPLIUATION FILED JULY 24, 1908.

Patented May 11, 1909. l

A TTOHNEYS W/TNESSES Wm wf HfNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

THOMAS MORCOM, OF NORWOOD, OHIO.

WHIFFLE TREE-HOOK.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, THoMAs MoncoM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and lmproved Whifiletree-Hcok, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to whiiiietree hooks, and more particularly such as are provided with resilient retaining means for securing the end of a trace in position on a whiftletree, swingle-tree, or the like. It constitutes an improvement on the device shown and described in my United States Patent No. 887,685, dated May 12, 1908.

The obj ect of the invention is tc rovide a device of the class described, simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, which includes a ferrule having a bifurcated end and adapted to be arranged at the end oi a whiftietree, swingle-tree or the like, a tongue pivotally carried by the bifurcated end of the head, and a resilient keeper having an upwardly disposed split hook, adapted to engage one end of the tongue to lock a trace end inV position, and to obviate the danger of the latter coming off accidentally. The ierrules may be made to fit sword end and other forms of whiftletrees.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part' of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view ci an embodiment of my invention, showing the same in position on a whiiiletree, and showing` the end of a trace held in place thereby; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section ofthe device, showing the tongue in engagement with the retainer; Fig. 3 is a side elevation having a part in section, and showing the tongue released from the retainer; and Fig. 4 is an end view of the device.

ln the specific form shown in the drawings, I provide a ierrule 1 adapted to be arranged on one of the ends oi a swingle-tree, Whittletree, or the like, and having a constricted end or projection 2. The latter is bifurcated, so that a substantially U-shaped recess 3 is formed in the projection. The base 4 oi' the recess 3 is under-cut, or beveled, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. Pivotally arranged between the jaws 5 which form the sides of the recess 3, is a tongue 6. The latter is comprised of a body 7 having lateral extensions 8 and having a substantially rec- Speocaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed. July 24,

Patented May l1, 1909.

1908. Serial. N0. 445,105.

tangular head 9. The extensions 8 have registering openings 10, which, in turn, regis ter with similar openings 11 in the jaws 5. Extending through the openings 10 and 11 is a pivot pin 12, which serves movably to hold the tongue in position. The lower end 13 oi' the tongue 6 is beveled so that when the tongue is moved into a horizontal position in longitudinal alinement with the projection 2 oi' the ferrule, the lower end will seat against the under-cut portion 4 oi the recess 8 to hold the tongue against further downward movement, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. l iurther provide a resilient retainer 13 having a portion 14 upwardly disposed. The retainer is removably secured by means oi screws 17, in a recess 15 formed by extensions 16 of the ferrule. The screws 17 extend through the i'errule and serve to hold the latter in place upon the whiitletree. The upwardly disposed portion 14 of the retainer has its end biiurcated so that jaws 18 are i'ormed. These jaws are turned back upon themselves to form hooks, adapted to rest against the head 9 of thetongue when the latter has been moved into a vertical position and the body has been received in the biiurcated portion oi the retainer, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the operation oi the device, the tongue is moved into longitudinal alinement with the constricted end of the head. lillhile in this position, the trace may easily be passed over the tongue until it engages the constricted projection 2. The tongue is then moved into a vertical position, and the upwardly disposed portion 14 oi' the retainer compressed so that the body 7 of the tongue can pass between the jaws 18. "When the tongue is in position, the retainer is released, and secures the tongue, the jaws resting against the outer face oi the head 9, thus serving the double purpose of locking the trace on the head by means of the tongue, and of giving further support to the tongue so that the latter cannot be broken or disengaged.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a device of the class described, a Vferrule having a constricted, bifurcated end, a tongue pivotally carried at the bifurcated end oi saidferrule, said tongue having a head, and a resllient retainer arranged upon said iierrule, said retainer having the iree end j arranged upon the ierruie, and having the.y

thereof bifurcated and upwardbT disposed, tongue therein, the free ends`oi` the bifurcawhereby when said tongue is received in the tion beingupwardly disposed, and the tongue bifurcated portion of said retainer, the upbeing provided with a head for engagement wardiy disposed portion engages at the outer I by the bifurcations.

side of the head oi' said tongue to lock thef In testimony whereof I have signed my latter in position. naine to this specication in the presence oi' 2. In a device of the class described, a fertwo subscribing witnesses. c

rule having a bifnrcated end, a tongue-pivot- 3 THGMAS MORCOM.

ed within the bifurcation, a resilient retainer Witnesses z Trios. G. WRIGHT,

free end thereof biiurcated to receive thel MAVAIELYEBS. 

